The widow of a hero policeman who was murdered in Birmingham has paid tribute to film director Michael Winner.

The film-maker, who died yesterday aged 77, funded a charity which erected a memorial at the spot in Perry Barr where Pc Malcolm Walker was murdered in the line of duty in 2001.

Last night widow, Helen Walker, described Mr Winner as a “lovely, caring man” who introduced her to the Queen and always sent her a Christmas card without fail.

Malcolm, affectionately known as Mac, was killed as he tried to stop a stolen car racing down Birchfield Road, Perry Barr, in October 2001.

The 46-year-old dad-of-four was thrown to his death after Nicholas Walters deliberately rammed his motorbike with a car he had stolen minutes earlier. The then 20-year-old killer was jailed for life in December 2002 at Nottingham Crown Court.

“He was lovely to me and my family and it’s such a shame. He really did care for all of the families.

“He sent us a card every year at Christmas and even introduced me to the Queen when the new national police memorial was unveiled in London.”

Helen added: “I will always remember the first time he called me. I missed the call and did a 1471.

“I got through to the phone and it was Michael Winner saying that he wanted to do something to help commemorate Mac.

“Even when Mac’s memorial was vandalised he had it repaired straight away. He really does deserve credit for supporting the families of fallen officers. He really did care about us.”

Mr Winner was also involved in erecting the memorial for Birmingham Detective Constable Michael Swindells, aged 44, who died on May 21, 2004 after he was stabbed through the heart on a towpath underneath the M6 motorway in Aston.

Carol Swindells (centre) receives a kiss from Michael Winner (centre right) as a memorial to her husband DC Michael Swindells is unveiled

The Chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, Ian Edwards, said: “Mr Winner was a great supporter of police officers nationally and of the families of officers who have died within our force. “It is very sad to lose a person who supported and championed the police so much.”

Mr Winner, who made more than 30 films including the blockbuster Death Wish series, had been ill for some time and died yesterday at his home in Kensington, London, where he was being nursed by his wife Geraldine.

Paying tribute to her husband, Mrs Winner said in a statement: “Michael was a wonderful man, brilliant, funny and generous. A light has gone out in my life.”

He founded and funded the Police Memorial Trust following the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan embassy in London in 1984.

More than 50 officers have been honoured by the trust at sites across the country.

The initiative led to a National Police Memorial being erected in the Mall in central London.

Graham Young and Michael Winner

GRAHAM YOUNG REMEMBERS MICHAEL WINNER

After directing Charles Bronson in three ultraviolent Death Wish films, Michael Winner suffered a from some negative comments.

But Britain will be a poorer place without the colourful bon vivant.

By May, 1999, he was a leading restaurant critic who demanded good food and service.

And so he came to Birmingham with his own ‘Winner Dinner’ event at Five Ways’ Swallow Hotel where he personally treated 16 Mail readers to five-star trappings.

They were then taken by coach to the Odeon New Street where Winner introduced his new – and last movie – Parting Shots, before a private plane flew him to London.

After a horror film called Crystal Balls never materialised, Winner was later reinvented as the star of the ‘Calm down dear’ TV ads.

In truth, Winner’s charm probably helped him to direct more films and with better stars than his actual talent deserved.

His England-based remake of The Big Sleep (1978), for example, starred Robert Mitchum, Joan Collins, Edward Fox, John Mills, James Stewart and Oliver Reed.

Others to fall under his spell included Burt Lancaster, Orson Welles, Anthony Hopkins and even Marlon Brando.

“We’re still really good friends,” Michael told me in his hotel bedroom when I interviewed him.

“Marlon will ring me up six times a night, each with a different voice before admitting who he really is.”

In such company, the lack of critical acclaim didn’t bother him.

“I might never have won an Oscar, but I could never say that life cheated me,” he added.